Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) need to survive cancer treatments with a specific end goal to provide new, more differentiated, metastatic-prone cancerous cells. This happens through diverse signals delivered within the tumor microenvironment where ample evidence indicates that altered developmental signaling pathways play an essential role in maintaining CSCs and accordingly the survival and the progression of the tumor itself. This review summarizes findings on the immunobiological properties of CSCs as compared with cancerous non-stem cells involving the expression of immunological molecules, cytokines and tumor antigens as well as the roles of the Notch, Wnt and Hedgehog pathways in the brain, breast and colon CSCs. We concluded that if CSCs are the main driving force behind tumor support and growth then understanding the molecular mechanisms and the immunological properties directing these cells for immune tolerance is of great clinical significance. Such knowledge will contribute to designing better targeted therapies that could prevent tumor recurrence and accordingly significantly improve cancer treatments and patient survival.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by a Grant (ID No. 5245) funded by the Science and Technology and Development Fund (STDF), Egypt to Mohamed L. Salem and by a fellowship from the Cultural Affairs and Mission Sector, Ministry of Higher Education, Egypt to Mohamed L. Salem. Zihai Li is Abney Chair Remembering Sally Abney Rose in Stem Cell Biology and Therapy, who is supported by the SmartState Endowed Chair Program of South Carolina, USA.